Rheumatology

What we do

Welcome to the Rheumatology Department at King’s College Hospital. We provide world-class care for patients with rheumatic diseases, offering fast access to diagnosis and treatment while driving innovation through our research and academic excellence. As a EULAR Centre of Excellence, our team combines cutting-edge research, leading academics, and clinical experts working across multidisciplinary networks, including collaborations with internal medicine specialties.

We understand that managing a rheumatological condition can feel overwhelming. Our team is here to deliver personalised, expert care and guide you at every step of your journey.

Conditions we treat

We care for a broad range of conditions, including:

• ANCA vasculitis, large vessel vasculitis, giant cell arteritis: these conditions involve inflammation of the blood vessels and can cause symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, joint pain, and organ damage
• connective tissue diseases (for example, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s syndrome, scleroderma): systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune condition that affects various body systems, including skin, joints, kidneys, and the heart. Sjögren’s syndrome primarily affects the glands that produce moisture, causing dryness of the eyes and mouth. Scleroderma leads to thickening and tightening of the skin and can affect internal organs
• IgG4-related disease: this is an inflammatory condition that can cause swelling, scarring, and organ dysfunction across multiple body systems
• inflammatory arthritis (for example, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis): these types of arthritis involve inflammation of the joints, leading to pain, swelling, and stiffness
• juvenile idiopathic arthritis (in partnership with paediatric services): this is a form of arthritis in children that causes joint inflammation and stiffness, which may affect growth and development
• myositis (for example, dermatomyositis and other idiopathic inflammatory myopathies): these are conditions that cause muscle inflammation and weakness, and they may present with skin rashes in some cases, such as in dermatomyositis
• sarcoidosis: this is an inflammatory condition where clumps of immune cells (granulomas) form in organs, commonly affecting the lungs, lymph nodes, and skin
• VEXAS syndrome: this is a rare, recently identified condition caused by a genetic mutation, leading to inflammation, blood abnormalities, and immune dysfunction

Specialist services and support

We offer multidisciplinary support services, including:

• physiotherapy and occupational therapy to help patients manage mobility and daily activities
• specialist nursing services for patient education, symptom monitoring, and advice
• community podiatry services for foot care
• specialist pharmacists to support targeted biologic prescribing pathways
• specialist ultrasound services for the diagnosis of conditions like giant cell arteritis

Our research and innovation

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a global leader in rheumatology research. We provide patients access to novel treatments and shape future therapies through groundbreaking research.

Research highlights include:

• National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit (NEIAA): improving care standards and outcomes across the UK
• clinical trials: active trials for inflammatory arthritis, lupus, sarcoidosis, VEXAS syndrome, and innovative treatments like CAR T-cell therapy
• multidisciplinary research: we work with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and academic partners on large-scale epidemiology studies and translational research
• Patient Advisory Group: patients help guide our research and service development to ensure our work remains patient-centred

How you will be referred to King’s

Your GP or specialist will refer you to us, and we will contact you to arrange an appointment.

Please note:

• we do not accept self-referrals from patients – all referrals must be made by a healthcare professional
• we do not accept referrals through the private sector, as we are an NHS provider only

Location

Third floor, Willowfield Building, King’s College Hospital, Bessemer Road, SE5 9BG

Most clinics take place in the Willowfield Building at King’s College Hospital. Some multidisciplinary team (MDT) clinics may be held in other parts of the hospital, so always check your appointment letter for confirmation.

Contact Details

• Current patient helpline: 020 3299 1866
• Current patient email: [email protected]